Hardware
While OpenWrt hardware may not fully harness the exceptional capabilities of the Banana Pi R4 Router board—driven by the powerful MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) with its 1.8GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 SoC—it does deliver commendable mid-level performance through the MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core processor, which relies on the older ARM Cortex-A53 architecture and operates at clock frequency speeds up to 1.3 GHz.
In this first of its kind product launch, OpenWrt Organization seems to have opted for cost-effective hardware, striking a balance between caution and the pursuit of profitability. However, for those who prioritize performance, it’s important to highlight that the router performance remains above satisfactory.
| Feature | MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) | MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Architecture | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 | Dual-core ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Clock Speed | 1.8 GHz | 1.3 GHz |
| Security Features | Advanced security protocols | Basic security protocols |
| Target Applications | High-end routers, gateways | Mid-range routers, gateways |
It’s a mistake to compare the router with BPI R4.
Compare it with BPI R3. Unfortunately Openwrt One looses in every possible category including price.
OpenWrt may have prioritized profit over customer value, which could be considered a strategic mistake.